Lakiubeogradu

Recent questions about my opinions on how the projects in Belgrade are being prioritised brought my attention to this particular topic. It’s interesting to put certain big investments in one place and see if they’re the jurisdiction of a State or the City and who is actually paying for realisation of these projects.

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BROTHERHOOD AND UNITY HIGHWAY

Jurisdiction of a State (or Federation of that time). Anyway, financed 66% by the City and the rest by the State and Federation. Opened in 1950.

BEOGRAD CENTAR (PROKOP) RAILWAY STATION

Under construction for 35 years. From 1977. to 1980s, halted, then built again in 1990s, halted in 2000. Still stuck. Part of a bigger project, the Belgrade railway junction, which was once funded by a 3% tax that Belgraders had to be paying for a while, even though it’s a jurisdiction of a state. More about Belgrade railway junction here.

CLINICAL CENTRE OF SERBIA

Under construction for 35 years now, another project financed by the State. The most of the building stands empty. Real image of public health care system in Serbia.

BELGRADE CITY ROAD BYPASS

Jurisdiction of the State, needed to eliminate congestion problems caused by the highway that passes through the centre of the City. In construction since 1995, works intensified in 2005. In 2012. certain sections are finished, but still not fully functional.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SERBIA

Closed since 2002 for the same reason as the Museum of Contemporary Art, same fate.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Revitalisation and adaptation since 2008. Not clear whose jurisdiction this museum is, but having in mind it collects art from all Serbia, the answer should be obvious. Ministry of culture said it expects the reconstructions, both this and the National museum, to be finished in 2009 (Source link). Still closed for the same reason.

AVALA TV TOWER

Rebuilt in 2010. Used by the National Television, it’s in the jurisdiction of a state, but anyway, this was financed 50/50 by the State and the City.

GAZELA BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION

Jurisdiction of a State because it’s a part of the highway - the reason why there are no and why there can’t be any pedestrian or bicycle paths on this bridge, until it’s in the hands of the City. Reconstruction done in 2012. was funded 50/50 by the City and the State.

WRECKED PANČEVO BRIDGE

Internal quarrels between Serbian Railways and Roads of Serbia about who provides the money goes on, while the bridge is falling apart for years. Recent functional breakage had to be fixed by the Belgrade’s Directorate for roads, which is also building the new access road to the bridge, despite that the bridge is the jurisdiction of the State.

SHIP GRAVEYARD

One of the ugliest areas of Belgrade that spans the length of the Sava bicycle path, connecting two major sports and recreational centres. Besides the dozens of old, abandoned ships, this area features one of a kind German ship made of concrete. The State showed no interest in this area, while the city asked for the transfer of jurisdiction. The State said “no” again.

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During communist Yugoslavia times, Slovenians said that Belgrade is being constructed, while Slovenia is working. That’s why we couldn’t start the metro in the 1970’s, so we rather bought weapons for the Federation and the States. Ironically, we used the same weapons in the 90’s wars.

Slovenian opinion remains, only now among Serbians living outside of Belgrade.

I’m not sure if this “opinion” is fine, when you see that the most of the State projects in Belgrade are stagnating, while those funded by the City are being finished or have the great chance to be.